Nuestra Señora de la Peña- The Forgotten Devotion of the Pasigueños

    In the heart of Pasig lies a poignant piece of forgotten heritage—the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Nuestra Señora de la Peña or Our Lady of the Rock. Once a cherished aspect of the town's spiritual and cultural life, this devotion has faded into the margins of collective memory. The title, evocative of strength and refuge, reflects the Virgin Mary's role as a steadfast intercessor for her devotees.

    To shed light on this nearly forgotten devotion, I turn to an excerpt from La Virgen María: Venerada en sus Imagenes filipinas, a book published in 1904 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This historical piece offers a glimpse into how Nuestra Señora de la Peña was once venerated and the significance it held for the people of Pasig.

    A translation of the original article that was published will follow to help understand its context and relevance.

Nuestra Señora de la Peña

Town of Pasig, Rizal Province

The information recorded here is owed to the steadfast tradition of the residents of Pasig.

The miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de la Peña is held in great veneration in the town of Pasig.

According to the constant tradition of its residents, it was found inside a well, from where it was transferred with great pomp, devotion, and attendance to the town church.

The people of Pasig developed such veneration for this wondrous Lady that the day of her feast was often celebrated with more joy and solemnity than even the titular feast of the town.

Residents from neighboring towns and even from the city of Manila would attend the feast.

When the Lord afflicted its inhabitants with one of the scourges of His divine justice, the Holy Image was taken out in procession, and the calamity would cease.

Around the years 1861 to 1862, when cholera began to wreak havoc in the town of Pasig, the residents decided to carry Nuestra Señora de la Peña in procession with the firm hope of seeing such a terrible calamity disappear. The Virgin did not turn a deaf ear to the prayers of her devotees, and their hopes were not in vain.

There are many miracles attributed by the devotion of her faithful to Nuestra Señora de la Peña, one of the most notable being the following:

A resident of the town, suffering from an illness for which no human remedy could be found, placed herself under the protection of Nuestra Señora de la Peña, whose image was then venerated in the small chapel of the Beaterio, located at that time in the Bambang neighborhood. The ailing woman promised to sweep the chapel daily and light some candles before her heavenly Advocate if she were delivered from the illness afflicting her. The Virgin heard the prayers of the devout woman and, as a sign of her impending recovery, caused her to experience sharp pains in her back. Disturbed by the discomfort these pains caused, the sick woman asked a housemate to investigate their cause. Complying with the patient’s request, the housemate lifted her from the bed and found several pins embedded in her back. Once these were removed, she was immediately healed of her previous illness and faithfully fulfilled her promise.

The curtain covering the Holy Image on ordinary days and the oil from the lamp burning before it have, on various occasions, served as effective remedies for many ailments.

The exact date of its discovery is unknown.

During the disturbances caused in recent years, this Holy Image has disappeared.

- from La Virgen Maria: Venerada en sus Imagenes filipinas

    As of now, no additional details about this devotion have surfaced or circulated beyond the article published in 1904.

    Some elder residents still recall the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Peña. According to them, the image of the Virgin was not lost but merely kept in a safe place and later returned to her shrine. Others describe the Virgen de la Peña as a small image of the Virgin Mary with a dark complexion, similar to the Virgen de Antipolo. She is depicted seated on a chair, resembling the Lady of Montserrat, with the Child Jesus sitting on her left leg—a departure from the usual depiction of the Child on the right. This image, they say, could still be seen in the years leading up to World War II.

    In addition to miracles involving plagues and calamities, the Virgin was most commonly sought for intercession in matters of fertility. The current chapel of Colegio del Buen Consejo was her original shrine. Women, especially couples, would visit the chapel to light candles at its doorstep. Even after the war, people continued the practice of lighting candles in front of the chapel, despite the absence of the Virgin Mary’s image.

    Truly, Pasig's profound joy and devotion to the Mother of God shines through the town’s history, even as time has caused this particular devotion to wane. Like other devotions mentioned in the same book—such as Nuestra Señora de la Buena Hora of Quiapo Church, which has seen efforts for revitalization—the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Peña also deserves to be revived and cherished once more.

    Steps to rekindle this devotion have already begun, starting with the search for old photographs, novena booklets, and other artifacts associated with Nuestra Señora de la Peña. Each discovery serves as a bridge connecting the past to the present, ensuring that this legacy of faith may flourish once again for future generations.

    May this humble effort inspire a renewed appreciation for the Virgen de la Peña and her place in the spiritual and cultural tapestry of Pasig. Let her intercession and the hope she represents continue to guide and bless all who seek her aid.